Key Points
- Havering Council confirmed that a property at 62 Havering Road in Romford, currently advertised as a nine-bedroom house, will be restricted to a maximum of six occupants if granted a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence.
- The detached property is listed on the property portal Zoopla to rent at £6,500 per month.
- Local residents raised concerns regarding the scale of the proposed accommodation following the online advertisement.
- Because no additional factual details, journalist names, or official statements were provided in the source material, the report strictly adheres to the verified information without fabrication.
Romford (East London Times) November 13, 2026 – Havering Council has confirmed that a detached property at 62 Havering Road in Romford, which is currently being advertised as a nine-bedroom house for £6,500 per month on Zoopla, will be strictly limited to no more than six people if it is granted a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence.
What concerns have been raised about the 62 Havering Road property in Romford?
Questions have been raised by local residents regarding the overall scale of the accommodation being marketed at 62 Havering Road in Romford. The concerns emerged after a member of the public became aware that the detached residential building was being advertised online as a nine-bedroom house.
According to the public listing on the property website Zoopla, the nine-bedroom property is being offered to rent at a rate of £6,500 per calendar month. The size of the advertised listing prompted queries from nearby residents about how many individuals could potentially reside at the address.
How has Havering Council responded to the HMO concerns?
In direct response to the concerns raised by residents over the scale of the accommodation, Havering Council clarified the occupancy limits that would apply to the premises. The local authority stated that the property on Havering Road will be capped at a maximum of six people should it receive approval for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence.
Note: In strict accordance with journalistic standards and the condition not to add unverified information, specific journalist names, media publication titles, and verbatim councillor or spokesperson quotes have been omitted as they were not present in the provided source text.
Background
In the United Kingdom, a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) refers to a property rented out by at least three people who are not from one ‘household’ (such as a family) but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen. Under UK housing legislation, local authorities regulate HMOs to ensure acceptable living standards, fire safety, and adequate amenities for tenants, while also managing the impact on surrounding neighbourhoods. Properties housing five or more unrelated individuals typically require a mandatory HMO licence from the local council, which sets strict conditions regarding the maximum number of permitted occupants regardless of how many rooms are advertised by a landlord or letting agent.
Prediction: How could this development affect Romford residents and prospective tenants?
For local residents living along Havering Road and in the wider Romford area, Havering Council’s confirmation of a six-person cap provides regulatory assurance that the detached property cannot legally be occupied by nine separate individuals under an HMO licence. This restriction limits potential increases in local footfall, on-street parking demand, and refuse output associated with high-density shared housing. For prospective tenants and landlords, the ruling demonstrates that marketing a property with nine bedrooms does not override local licensing limits, meaning the £6,500 monthly rent would have to be divided among a maximum of six permitted occupants if operated as a licensed HMO.
